Second Test preview: SA v New Zealand

Tue 22-January-2013 14:19

Kallis - SA's danger man.

The Proteas don't have a positive record at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth, so if New Zealand were ever going to produce a massive upset, this would be the venue to do it as they prepare to play the second of two Tests.

The Proteas don't have a positive record at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth, so if New Zealand were ever going to produce a massive upset, this would be the venue to do it as they prepare to play the second of two Tests.

The Proteas won the first game in Cape Town by a massive margin of an innings and 27 runs, including dismissing the visitors for 45 before lunch on day one. That hour and a half is still casting a pall over the Kiwis, and the psychological advantage for the hosts is huge.

As mentioned, PE is a hoodoo venue for the Proteas, and of the 23 Tests played there, they have only won eight. But one has to doubt that a stat like that will be in the minds of the world's number one Test side, as dominant as they are right now.

The Proteas pace attack has been weakened by the loss of Vernon Philander, who took five of those '45 all out' wickets. He has a hamstring injury, which he played through in Cape Town, and has been replaced by Rory Kleinveldt.

While the Cobras paceman may not be of Philander's quality, he is hardly a slouch, and with Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel still on the park, the Black Caps will have little respite from the pace barrage they suffered at Newlands.

As for the visitors, they will be beyond desperate to make up for the humiliation in the first Test, and haven't taken a break from training since that game ended two days early. While the Proteas were swanning about on the beach, the Kiwis were training in the nets against super fast bowling machines.

Their one bright light in the first game was Dean Brownlie's 109, and they need the rest of the top order to also show some back bone if they are to avoid a whitewash. Brendon McCullum's captaincy got off to the worst possible start, so he needs to lead from the front if he wants to stop Ross Taylor's supporters from giggling into their beers.

In all honesty, it will be a disappointing situation if the Proteas dominate this match in three days again. Bad for cricket in general, bad for the Black Caps' already shot confidence, and bad for the fans, who have waited six years for Test cricket to come back to PE and will want to see a proper five-day thriller.

Key MenSouth Africa's star player at this ground, and often at any venue, really, is Jacques Kallis. He has the most international runs at the ground, and has the most wickets of the current players, so we reckon his all-round threat will once again come to the fore.

For the Black Caps, we're going to put some money on Dean Brownlie again coming good, after his century at Newlands. He was the only Kiwi batsman who looked comfortable against the Proteas pacemen, so here's hoping he can replicate that and put on a show for the locals.

Last Five Head-To-Head Results2013: First Test:South Africa won by an innings and 27 runs in Cape Town2012: Third Test: Match drawn in Wellington2012: Second Test: South Africa won by nine wickets in Hamilton2012: First Test: Match drawn in Dunedin2007: Second Test: South Africa won by an innings and 59 runs in Centurion

PredictionOnline betting firm Sky Bet have South Africa at 1/6 and New Zealand at 14/1 in the odds to win the second Test. Visit Sky Bet for the latest cricket betting.